Stubborn England Deny India For Now

Elvis Iwuamadi

6 months ago

England produced a stubborn batting display on day four of the third Test but India need just one more wicket to secure victory. The hosts began the day on 23-0 and still needing 498 runs to secure the unlikeliest of victories, but their chances were not helped as openers Keaton Jennings and Alistair Cook were dismissed quickly off the bowling of Ishant Sharma.

Captain Joe Root and Ollie Pope also didn’t last very long as England slumped to 62-4 and at that stage they looked in real danger of suffering a heavy defeat.
However, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes led the England fightback after lunch, putting on a fifth-wicket stand of 169, with Buttler claiming his maiden Test century before he was eventually dismissed for 106 off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah.
Buttler’s dismissal led to a mini-collapse from England, as they lost their next three wickets for just 10 runs, with Stokes being dismissed for 62 and Bairstow falling for a golden duck.

Stuart Broad and Adil Rashid did steady the ship for England once again, although Broad was dismissed for 20 late in the day as the hosts reached stumps on 311-9 and still needing a further 210 runs for victory.
Bumrah was the pick of the India bowlers as he ended the day with figures of 5-85 and the tourists now need just one more wicket on the final day to win the Test, although England would still lead the series 2-1.